- Hardcover: 320 pages
- Publisher: Andre Deutsch Ltd; 1st ed edition (22 Oct 1998)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 0233994157
- ISBN-13: 978-0233994154
- Product Dimensions: 2.3 x 1.6 x 0.3 cm
- Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 497,502 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
| ||||||||||||||||||
Did you know you can trade in your old books for an Amazon.co.uk Gift Card to spend on the things you want? Plus, get an extra £5 Gift Certificate when you trade in books worth £10 or more before June 30, 2012. Visit the Books Trade-In Store for more details. |
Product details |
More About the Author
Product Description
Product Description
Nicky Collins, one of the most highly decora ted British soldiers ever to serve in Northern Ireland, has finally written an account of his unusual experiences there. '
About the Author
Nicky Curtis, a second-generation soldier who was awarded the Military Medal for acts of bravery, is now a successful businessman who lives with his wife and children in Huddersfield.
--This text refers to the
Paperback
edition.
Suggested Tags from Similar Products(What's this?)Be the first one to add a relevant tag (keyword that's strongly related to this product)
|
Sell a Digital Version of This Book in the Kindle Store
If you are a publisher or author and hold the digital rights to a book, you can sell a digital version of it in our Kindle Store.
Learn more
What Other Items Do Customers Buy After Viewing This Item?
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
16 of 17 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
Nicky Curtis was an NCO in the Green Howards in the 70's. The book describes how his unit were the daily target of terrorist snipers, sustaining large numbers of casualties. His patrol became renowned as one that were constantly in action. His bravery resulted in him being awarded the highly coveted Military Medal. The book goes on to describe covert operations which the author was involved in. It is a powerful, important account of the thankless and hazardous task of soldiering in Northern Ireland during the turbulent 70's.Never sensationalist or hyperbolical like some SAS personal memoirs; it is truthful, honest, and sometimes disturbing.
Format:Paperback
A brilliant book. Well written with fantastic detail which makes you really understand what these guys go through. Everyone should read this book!
Format:Paperback
This is an amazing book well worth a read. It is a true soldier's-eye view of the conflict in Northern Ireland. It gives a real taste of what it must have been like for those on the thin edge of the wedge in the armed struggle. It pulls no punches in describing the horrific tactics and approach of the republican terrorists. The description of the hidden IRA torture chamber was particularly harrowing. But the book also recognises (the author comes from a Catholic background) the point of view and real grievances of the nationalist population in Northern Ireland.
This is not a comfortable book for people to read if they have neatly segmented boxes in their minds of the rights and wrongs of the Armed Struggle. Nor was it a comfortable book for the Armed Forces to read who denied there was ever a "shoot to kill" policy operating in Northern Ireland, as it clearly shows some people were simply shot who could otherwise have been brought to justice. However it also exposes the hypocrisy inherent within an attitude that accuses the British security forces of shooting to kill active players, yet which refuses to condemn the shoot/bomb/maim to kill activities of the terrorists - on both sides.
The portion where the author tells how he just missed a shot at Gerry Adams was highly ironic: had he been a little bit more accurate then the recent story of Northern Ireland politics could have been very different!
At the end of the day, the author is prescient when he concludes, "I still realize that the general Christian belief in forgiveness... will be the only foundation upon which any lasting peace in Northern Ireland will be built."
Do not read this book if you are of a sensitive disposition or easily offended. Do read it if you want an excellent, realistic ground level view of the "dirty war" in Northern Ireland. I highly commend this book for the latter grouping.
This is not a comfortable book for people to read if they have neatly segmented boxes in their minds of the rights and wrongs of the Armed Struggle. Nor was it a comfortable book for the Armed Forces to read who denied there was ever a "shoot to kill" policy operating in Northern Ireland, as it clearly shows some people were simply shot who could otherwise have been brought to justice. However it also exposes the hypocrisy inherent within an attitude that accuses the British security forces of shooting to kill active players, yet which refuses to condemn the shoot/bomb/maim to kill activities of the terrorists - on both sides.
The portion where the author tells how he just missed a shot at Gerry Adams was highly ironic: had he been a little bit more accurate then the recent story of Northern Ireland politics could have been very different!
At the end of the day, the author is prescient when he concludes, "I still realize that the general Christian belief in forgiveness... will be the only foundation upon which any lasting peace in Northern Ireland will be built."
Do not read this book if you are of a sensitive disposition or easily offended. Do read it if you want an excellent, realistic ground level view of the "dirty war" in Northern Ireland. I highly commend this book for the latter grouping.
Would you like to see more reviews about this item?
Were these reviews helpful?
Let us know
Customer Discussions
|
This product's forum
Active discussions in related forums
Search Customer Discussions
|
Related forums
|
Listmania!
Look for similar items by category
- Books > Biography > Film, Television & Music > Music
- Books > Biography > Historical > 1901 Onwards
- Books > Biography > Historical > Britain > Military
- Books > Biography > Historical > Countries & Regions > Europe
- Books > Biography > Political > Britain
- Books > Biography > War & Espionage > Terrorism & Freedom Fighters
- Books > History > Britain & Ireland > Ireland
- Books > History > Military History > Armed Forces > Land Forces
- Books > History > Military History > Military Life & Institutions
Look for similar items by subject
Feedback
- Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
- I am the Author, and I want to comment on my book.
- I am the Publisher, and I want to comment on this book.
